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When to Plant Epazote in Lincoln County, OR

Epazote is a pungent Mexican herb traditionally cooked with black beans to reduce their gas-causing properties. It has a strong, unique flavor that is an acquired taste.

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 267 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Epazote to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, OR (Zone 8b) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Lincoln County

How your county's soil matches Epazote's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5โ€“6.4) is more acidic than Epazote prefers (6.0โ€“8.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Lincoln County is excellent for Epazote โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) โ€” Epazote will thrive.

How to Plant Epazote

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Epazote

5
successive plantings in your 195-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Epazote

Epazote needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Epazote Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 6.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 2" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 2.2" 0.6" 1.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 2.2" 0.7" 1.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 2.2" 3.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 6.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 5.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Lincoln County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Epazote Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Epazote needs ~643 GDD — county provides 2,388 GDD Excellent fit

Epazote Planting Timeline โ€” Lincoln County, OR

Epazote Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 โ€“ Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 17
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ May 17
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Aug 16

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

45โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“8 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

195 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Epazote in Lincoln County

Direct sow Epazote outdoors after April 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 195.0-day season in Lincoln County allows multiple plantings of Epazote. Sow every 22.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost. Epazote grows easily and self-sows aggressively. Use sparingly in cooking as the flavor is very strong. Harvest leaves before flowering for best flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Epazote in Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Epazote planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 31.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lincoln County gardeners in Zone 8b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lincoln County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.